Nordic walking and mindfulness
What's the
connection between Nordic walking and mindfulness? First, a bit about what
mindfulness is. Psychology Today calls it "a state of
active, open attention on the present." What does that mean in plain
English? Phil Jackson, the famous basketball coach, described it in a couple of
books I read (Eleven Rings [Kindle, hardcover,
paperback, audio]
and Sacred Hoops [Kindle, hardcover,
paperback, audio])
broke it out into several steps:
- Sit still, focusing on your breathing.
- Distracting thoughts may come to mind. If so, let them.
- Don't fret over distracting thoughts. Just acknowledge them, and return to your breathing.
- Over time, such thoughts will become less distracting, and your ability to focus will improve.
Phil Jackson claimed
that such practice enabled him and his players to concentrate more effectively
in games.
When you're Nordic
walking, you're breathing in a steady rhythm, so you can practice that
technique. That's helpful because distracting thoughts or daydreaming make it
tempting to walk less purposefully and slow to a stroll. Although you don't
have to engage in high intensity training, you do want to stride in a way that
generates effort in order to engage those extra muscles.
In a future post:
some thoughts about how prayer fits in for those who want to integrate
spiritual and physical.
